April 22, 1999
COLUMBIA, Mo.- University of Missouri head women's basketball coach Cindy Stein has announced the signing of first-team Kodak Junior College All-American Marlena Williams. Stein also announced that former Jackson High School standout Christa Millham will transfer to Missouri from New Mexico State.
Williams, a six-foot post player, played the last two seasons at Illinois Central College, the two-time defending Junior College national champions. Millham will have to sit out the 1999-2000 season, but will have three years left to play at Missouri.
Williams, from Manual High School in Peoria, Ill., averaged 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She played for the 1999 NJCAA Coach-of-the-Year Lorene Ramsey. Williams was named to the all-tournament team at the national tournament this past season and received the most votes for the All-Region 24 team. Illinois Central finished 34-2 this past season on its way to its second national title.
"Marlena's signing is an exciting and proud moment for the University of Missouri," said Stein. "She is a tremendous player who is very versatile and talented. She is a scoring threat from anywhere and crashes the boards with intensity."
Williams chose Missouri over Illinois. Her brother, Frank Williams, was the 1998 Illinois Mr. Basketball out of high school and will play for the Fighting Illini this fall.
"Marlena comes from a well renowned high school program at Peoria Manual and the nation's best junior college," said Stein. "She's played under a high school coach, Larry Hendricks, for whom I have the utmost respect for. Her junior college coach, Coach Ramsey, is my mentor and one of the best coaches in the country."
Stein played for Illinois Central College from 1979-81 for Coach Ramsey and was a two-time NJCAA All-American.
Millham, a 5-8 point guard, was a first-team all-state performer for Jackson High in 1997-98. She averaged 16 ppg. at Jackson and led her team to Missouri's Final Four all four years. Last year at New Mexico State, Millham averaged just over six points per game.
"It is a great opportunity for us to be able to have a player the caliber of Christa to want to come back home and play," said Stein. "Christa is an exceptional ball-handler, floor leader and passer. Her speed and quickness make her a tenacious defender. Christa will be a true asset to our future success. She's a winner and she's a Missourian. That is a great combination.